Target Shopping Trip: Spent $24.11, Saved $47.33

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We decided to hit Target last night to stock up on some more of my favorite SoBe Lifewater, and I picked up a few more deals while I was there:

One thing that really excited me is I noticed a change to the registers while I was checking out. If a coupon was worth more than the price of an item, it automatically adjusted itself down!

While it's a bummer that there's no potential for overage anymore, this should save many of you some headaches with cashiers that are clueless about how to handle a coupon with a value in excess of the product price, especially when picking up the FREE after coupon travel size items.

I was just there today and noticed that my Rayovac coupons automatically adjusted down to $0.50. I was super excited though because that means no more beeping and no more clueless cashiers! I love technology!

I work at Target, and just want to let people know to make sure to watch the screen as your coupons are being scanned. Lately, I have seen the register accept a coupon, but will not take anything off. I've seen it with mostly b1g1 and free coupons. I have brought it to my store's attention. Most cashiers don't pay any attention unless the computer denies the coupon. I'm not sure if this is at all Targets, but still thought I would let everyone know.

Oh, that's a really good point, A H! I forgot to mention that the register did that with the Bear Naked coupons and a manager had to come do a manual discount for them. The SoBe coupons worked just fine though.

Just a few days ago I used a couple of Target coupons that didn't seem to come off on the screen I was watching but when I asked, the clerk showed me where they came off on her screen. I wonder if it's a new thing or just a random thing.

Target Qs usually come off as $0.00 on screen and automatically deduct the price on receipt. For example, if you bought an item that was $3 and had a Target Q that was $1, your receipt will say $2 for that item not $3. I know ... very confusing. But I finally figured this out about a month or two ago. Target Qs do not show up as -$1.00 (or whatever) only manufacturer Qs do.

HTH

PS-My Vocalpoint Crystal Light Q only deducted $1.97 not $2. The Crystal Light is on TPC for $1.97. So no overage, but still free! But my Suave Q last week for free deducted $3 and the Suave was on sale for $2 something. So free item Q items may be are automatically deducting up to max amount.

I've still been getting overage. Just today bought a Schick Hydro 5 (7.99) and used a $4 Target Coupon and a $5 Manufacturer's coupon and both showed up fully on my receipt. My Target is not a super Target and has older register's though. Although you'd think this could just be an update to their software.

yes, WATCH the screen and double check your receipt. the system upgrade no longer beeps, but it also doesn't seem to be able to notice "exact" items but does notice same brands. I used a pamper Q ($2) and a Oil of Olay Q ($4) (both P&G) and I got the pampers free because it thought the $4 Q was for the wipes but then had to pay $2 more for the Oil of Olay than i should have (because the system used the $2 pampers Q). Target is aware of this (at least at my store) and they refunded me. JUST WATCH because this has happened 2x in the last week and a half to me...could be why your puffs coupon was for the entire purchase price, make sure you also got the $2 on your wipes.

i guess i'm a little confused...if you used two coupons, one for $2 off and one for $4, even if it doesn't show the correct amount taken off for that item on the receipt, doesn't it even itself out anyways at the end of your purchase? so for example, let's say the wipes were $4, and the Olay was say...$6. if the system put it correctly on the receipt, it would say that the wipes would've only cost you $2 after the $2 coupon and the Olay would've only cost you $2 as well after the $4 coupon. now, in this case, you're saying that the system switch it around...so making the wipes free after the $4 coupon and the Olay $4 after the $2 coupon. I guess what I'm trying to say is that, regardless of how they show up on your receipt, you would have paid $4 OOP anyways, in either scenario...so why did they refund you?

I think what happened is since the $2 off coupon attached to the Olay, the other coupon attached to the wipes which were only $2.39, so the coupon automatically adjusted down to that price and she didn't get the full credit for the coupon.

ooh! that makes a whole lot of sense now. thanks for the explanation, Tara! you can probably tell i don't have any kids to know that the actual price of the wipes was only $2.39 instead of the $4 i hypothetically tried to use as an example. lol

but instead looked like this:
wipes $2.39 (-$2.39 since it "assumed" the $4 Q was for this auto adjusted with NO overage)
Olay body wash $4.79 (-$2.00 from pampers Q) paid $2.79

only $1.61 difference but there were several so it added up to about $8 difference

I also noticed before the end of June when i used the $5/2 on the benadryl sticks, it was automatically tagging the items and adjusting the price of the coupon but to only one item instead of the two so instead of taking $4.56 off ($2.28 with no overage) it only took $2.28

the system also did this on the arm and hammer toothpaste coupon, $2.50/2, that expired on 6/30. it only tagged it to one item instead of two...i bought four and all should have been free with two coupons, but i ended up paying for two...

my target CS was extremely kind about it though and just cautioned me to take a little longer checking out and watch everything and also that they were aware of the system having a few things that needed worked out?

Last night I tried to use the 1.00 off Tide on the 97 cent travel one. They said couldn't because less than Q. I asked if they could adjust the price/q- NO. So is this new policy written anywhere so I can print it to show them?
THANKS Tara

Actually, their coupon policy has always stated that coupons that exceed the amount of an item should be adjusted down. What's changed is the fact that the registers are recognizing it automatically now and adjusting them without any beeping and prompts for the cashier.

Sometimes it doesn't matter if you have the policy on you...the last time it happened to me, the cashier literally refused to look at the policy that I placed in front of her. She wouldn't even acknowledge that it was there. I hope corporate does something about her.

Yeah, I posted that deal last week too. Unfortunately, my store was out of them, so I went with the next best thing. I still have a few Qs left, so I'll check it out tomorrow to see if they got any more in!

i went in on sunday to cvs (right when their own bogo deal came out) and got 50 free cause i was able to print 25 bogo coupons from the sobe instant win game. There was no limit posted anywhere in store (on the product displays, signage, or otherwise) so my local store did not limit me to 6 coupons like everyone else has been talking about. Maybe I was just lucky!!! (actually with all my coupons and such, i bought $120 worth of groceries for $7.50). Still super excited bout that one! :)

well i split it into two transactions so i could maximize my ECB and OOP savings, but that still allowed me to use 12 and then 13 coupons in each transaction. Yeah, I came close to cleaning house. Part of me felt bad but at the same time, there was no posted limit, so I figured if they'll let me... :)

I am sure you probably did Tara, but I went to CVS and they were out so when I went to the second location I asked an employee if they could check in the back for me and sure enough, they had some in the back. I felt lucky because when I ask stores this they usually either don't check or they don't have any in the stock room. .....it made my day! lol!

I've been using the B1G1 Sobe at CVS, you only pay .05 tax after the cpn. So far 18 bottles for .90! My daughter is really going to love Mom's next grocery delivery! Re:cpns at Target - my MQ didn't ring for the right item, but still deducted the cpn amt - doesn't matter to me where they credit the cpn as long as the dollars come off the receipt.

Thank you all for explaining what is going on with the coupons at Target. I've lost $4 in the last week over this, but of course I didn't notice until I got home and didn't know if I'd have any luck if I went back.

if you still have your receipt go back in...i went in a week later. i happened to have extra of the coupons (i'd already used) all ready to show them as well as everything i bought that rang up wrong and had rehearsed what i'd say and they didn't even ask or want to see. they just said "okay show me which ones i owe ya for?" good luck!

Hi Tara, can you explain the suave shampoo coupon, I followed the link you provided and when I went to print it, it printed two $1.00 of coupons on suave professional products which requires I purchase two. How is this free? I'm confused :-(

I see you bought Black and Blueberry and Strawberry Dragonfruit! :-) CVS had neither of those flavors ~ at least mine didn't :-( So... you didn't miss anything!!!! I'd rather pay my .50 and get what I like!

F.Y.I. - I heard that starting this fall, every time you use your Target credit card you will get 5% off your transaction. Imagine how much we can save with coupons, Target coupons, bringing our own bags (5 cents off per bag) and using the Target card! Yea Target!

Just another FYI - the new "smart" registers at Target have a few glitches like the one's mentioned above and some more. I went and bought 2 benadryl itch sticks priced at $2.29 each and used a $5/2 benadryl products q. It only deducted $2.29. The cashier said since the register did it automatically that there was nothing she could do. I later found out that she could have either entered it manually or scanned the coupon again to take off the other $2.29. With two screaming kids in tow I decided to eat the cash and get the heck out of there! lol

take your receipt into customer service next time you're in there and explain it to them. they should refund you the $2.29. i had the same thing happen and went in a week later (as i too had my ornery kids with me and didn't notice until after i paid). no questions asked they handed me the money and were very kind.

That's the 64 thousand dollar question!! And why I had a problem with it. In all my days of couponing, I've never seen a cashier write the "adjusted down" amount on the coupon! So no more overage for us, but hey - all good things come to an end! :)

I had an exciting shopping trip at CVS, and wanted to share!! I got the small container of Enfamil gentle ease, Tide 32 oz. laundry det., an oral B toothbrush and a Nivea chapstick. After coupons and ECB earnings, I spent three whole cents!!! I love coupons!

I think I'll still stay clear of Target until they get all the kinks out. Since I've started couponing, I've lost a lot of confidence in Target as a customer service store and I just don't need the hassle of trying to fight for a dollar or two that is rightfully mine. This is good news though and I'll look forward to the day when they get it 100% right. Thanks for the info Tara! :D

When I went to Target a couple of weeks ago I had the opposite problem. I was trying to buy 4 of the Benadryl sticks with 2 - $5/2 coupons. The coupons beeped and I explained that there was an overage and they just needed to price down the coupons (each item was $2.39). The cashier tried to enter a price and neither the upline nor the manager could get it to work. They all told me that the new system would not allow them to enter the lower coupon amount yet the coupon was not working either. When the manager realized the overage was only $.70 (times 2) he said let the overage go thru and that's what happened. It's the first time I've ever gotten an overage at Target.

Unfortunately, I've already exhausted the print limit on all of the computers I have access to. My husband and I cut pop out of our diets at Lent, and we decided to stick to it after. This is our favorite drink, and $0.50 is a really good price for them -- not at good as free, LOL, but still really good.

Yikes! Why on earth did you pay for the Sobes?!? CVS all this week has has them on BOGO and with that instant win game I have been winning every day. I've redeemed for over 18 bottles of it now (and that's just the majority of one flavor leaving lots of others on the refrigerated shelves). Planning on making another trip today to use up some more before the sale runs out. For every 4 bottles I'm only paying .26 cents!

Your CVS has them in the regular beverage aisle? Lucky you! Both of the stores near me only have a row or two in the coolers and they were wiped out. I still have some coupons, so I'm going to see if they got any in today.

I did a Target shopping trip yesterday. I had some great buys in my basket and when i get to the register, the manager tells me I can not used coupons printed from my computer!!!! Can individual stores make choices like that? Has anyone else experienced problems like this?

No, that is definitely not inline with the Target corporate coupon policy. I'd suggest you contact customer service. They're very good at contacting the stores and telling them the proper procedures. You can also print a copy of the policy to carry with you here:

Thank You Tara! The manager took my Target printed coupon but not manufacture coupons. Unfortunately, it was too late in the evening to argue more than 15 minutes.
The manager said they have been dealing with coupon fraud so they were not longer taking manufacturer coupons. I was very annoyed! Target really let me down!

Just curious what coupons you had? There are several coupons going around the nets right now that are fraudulent. All the cashiers in my store have been notified of which coupons not to accept, and they were all "manufacturer coupons." It may be that you had counterfeit coupons without knowing it, and instead of telling you this maybe they just refused them so you wouldn't think they were accusing you of anything. I for one will simply tell the truth and say they are not valid coupons and we can't except them.

Oh wait let me clarify, my Target was not taking printed manufacturer coupons from my coupon, they did take the one from SS and RP from the newspaper. The policy does not say anything about PRINTED manufacturer coupons from online. I'm going to call customer service on Monday and maybe they could clarify it on their policy.

Just an FYI on the bare naked granola, Giant Eagle had them on sale last week at 2/$8, I used a b1g1 coupon making it 2/$4 and then I noticed on some of the bags there was $1 off coupons so I took 2 of those which allowed me to get then 2/$2, yea!!!! I dont know if the granola is on sale this week but just keep your eye out on some of those bags for the dollar off coupon (peelies).

I used a Free Oreo Q wyb milk & cookies (-$2.54), a $1 Target Q & .60/1 Q on the deli flats, a $1/2 Mini-Wheats, & $1/2 on the Fiber Plus cereal and 3 Q's for Free Fiber Plus cereal wyb another cereal. The reason this experience was different is because instead of subtracting $2.66 three times, the Target computer subtracted $4.29 three times so I had a $4.89 overage which more than made up for the over-charging on the Mini-Wheats.

Thanks for the link for the Target coupon policy; I lost mine last month & need to reprint it.
I have had a HORRIBLE day with couponing. After I cool off I plan on writing letters to Meijer & Target.
I was at the Target in Columbus on E Broad St by Waggoner Rd this evening (I think that's part of my problem is it's after 8pm whenever I get to go out without the kids)
There was a girl in front of me who was using the $1 off Tide for the trial packs (1st time I have actually seen them at a Target), the register was beeping & she wasn't going to take them but called her higher up over. There was a wait so me & the girl in front of me got to talking & her regular store carries the travel packs & takes the coupon & the store I use to shop at (Easton) would also adjust down. Well while the cashier was explaining it to her helper (it just said 'trainer' on her tag) that other stores took the Qs & would override the price & that we mentioned the coupon policy. Her trainer interrupted her & said she doesn't need to be told the coupon policy, the computer isn't wrong & she didn't care what other stores do. So they started studying the Q & the trainer was saying they can't take Qs on travel sizes cause they all SAY no trial sizes & travel size IS trial size. The cashier pointed out that the coupon did not state no trial sizes so accepted them.
I had 7 items & wanted to do 2 separate transactions. I bought 1 Always pad @ 5.49, 1 Always liner @ 5.69 to get the $5 GC when you buy 2 products. I handed over 2 Q's for $1 off each & the computer wouldn't accept them saying there was no product found & then when the cashier tried to override it the register said only one coupon per product (she hadn't rung even one Q thru). So she called over her trainer again & she said they couldn't take coupons since they were giving me a gift card which is like a coupon. I asked about overriding it & said that Easton has done it before & she said no, they can't give away their stuff for free. I dropped it (they only had 2 cashiers & the lines where 6-7 deep) but as she turned away she said "Just go to Easton" !!!!!
I was going to go the the customer service desk...but she was the customer service desk. I ended up buying them cause they are needed but it really left a bad taste in my mouth.
Earlier this week I tried getting the Crystal light for $1.97 & I had $2.00 off Q's from Vocal point but the computer wouldn't accept them so I left them there (2 screaming kids in tow)

We recently moved to this side of town & it's a whole new ballgame with what is accepted & not & what you get grief for (At Meijer today the cashier apologized to the man behind me because I had her void off my Kool-aid & sugar....yep all 40 of them...& said to him you know how some ppl are. & then proceeded to say if it's just $4 maybe I should be shopping someplace else.)

Oh, wow, that's horrible! I actually had a terrible experience at that very Target about 2 years ago, and it's why I don't shop there anymore. The cashiers are far nicer at the new store by the 256 exit, so that's the store that gets my business.

Sorry for the vent...but yeah it seems as much as I didn't want to travel 256 I'll be going that way more & more. The CVS down there accepted all 3 of my B1G1 Sobe Q's last week so I paid .41 for 6 Sobes (: AND the Meijer on Diley Rd took all my coupons too.

I am soooo glad I saw this discussion. I went to target last night & could NOT figure out the new system! I thought it was the cashier or the register being wacky but wow, what a hassle. I do like the new automatic price adjusting, but I liked the overages too. :) So, the register took a $1.79 off my shaving cream when I had a $.55 coupon for it, took $3.00 off for the free suave which was $1.84 but wouldn't recognize my BOGO Gillette bodywash & some coupons didn't even show up as being scanned. I've been having a huge problem with coupons not going through lately, so I was watching close & even handed over only 2 at a time. But even with coupons taking weird amounts off of the wrong things, I ended up +$.39. Don't ask me how!
Oh, & I hate when the cashier apologizes to the people behind me, like I'm doing something wrong or something. Hey, I'm just trying to save money!! LOL! They're all just jealous...

I had an awful experience at Target last week as well. I was trying to use up my $4 Olay body wash & free Ivory q's, plus purchase a ton of other stuff. The cashier and trainer helping her treated me as if I were a criminal trying to steal from the store. I was under the impression that it was okay to use the $4 q's with the free Ivory q's since they were for different items. I ended up going back the next day and getting my $12 back for the q's they refused to take, but I probably won't be shopping at Target much more in the future unless the deals are worth the hassle. I consider myself to be an ethical couponer, so was I wrong to try to use the 2 together?

Yep, noticed today the automatic adjustments at the register, but I loved that there were NO BEEPS! which meant I got through the line much quicker! It was awesome, with just one glitch. One of my BOGO Pantene Qs didn't show up right- rang up for .99 when it should have taken off 3.49, but luckily I double check my receipts and CS at our Davenport, IA store is really great about making things right, so I got my $ in the end. I'll gladly sacrifice overage for ease of use w/ coupons! :)

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About Deal Seeking Mom

Tara Kuczykowski is a married mom of three boys and two girls, ages 5 to 11 years, living in Columbus, OH.

As a former career-oriented professional turned stay-at-home mom, reconciling champagne tastes with a tap-water budget was a challenge, especially with a large family. By learning how to cut costs on her family's basic needs, she has found the key to having more disposable income for the things in life that make it worth living.